Replicate input config?

[BallsOFire]

I just purchased FC3 for DCS, even though I had already bought A-10A for it (I didn't know FC3 would be out so soon!). Anyway, I kind of dislike the fact that now I have to setup all the flight and view controls again now for the F-15C. I've already been through this for the SU-25, A-10A, and P51D, and now I have to to 90% of the work again for a new aircraft.

 

I know some functions vary between aircraft, but the vast majority are the same, especially views, general game controls, and basic flight controls. I tried editing the .lau files in notepad but they are not in a friendly format at all. Is there any way to do this?

 

Thanks!

[BallsOFire]

I have now found some posts where people speak of editing other .lau files but not the control input ones. I can see editing some of the smaller ones like options.lua that is only a couple of lines but the control input files are huge and just a jumble. Can anyone speak to whether there is any tool or technique for editing these?

[cichlidfan]

I have edited many controller lua files but I don't know of any trick to it.

 

Always make a backup. Use Notepad++ to edit (it has a splitscreen feature that is most useful for transferring edits from one file to another).

 

Also, make sure to only edit the files in the Saved Games folder.

[BallsOFire]

I have edited many controller lua files but I don't know of any trick to it.

 

Always make a backup. Use Notepad++ to edit (it has a splitscreen feature that is most useful for transferring edits from one file to another).

 

Also, make sure to only edit the files in the Saved Games folder.

Thanks for your reply, but I can't make heads or tails of the file. How do you find anything in it? There is no fomatting at all so it's impossible for me to find what I want to copy or where to paste it. it's just a huge confusing jumble.

[cichlidfan]

Thanks for your reply, but I can't make heads or tails of the file. How do you find anything in it? There is no fomatting at all so it's impossible for me to find what I want to copy or where to paste it. it's just a huge confusing jumble.

 

Are you sure we are talking about the same files? I am talking about the files located this area

 

c:\Users\<yourname>\Saved Games\DCS\Config\Input\<aircraft>\<controller>\

 

This is the top of my joystick lua file for the P-51.

 

function layout()
return {
forceFeedback = {
trimmer = 1.000000,
shake = 0.500000,
swapAxes = false,
invertX = false,
invertY = false,
},
keyCommands = {
{pressed = 3005, cockpit_device_id = 11, value_pressed = -1, name = "Air Cold Decrease", category = "Environment System"},
{pressed = 3005, cockpit_device_id = 11, value_pressed = 1, name = "Air Cold Increase", category = "Environment System"},
{pressed = 3006, cockpit_device_id = 11, value_pressed = -1, name = "Air Hot Decrease", category = "Environment System"},
{pressed = 3006, cockpit_device_id = 11, value_pressed = 1, name = "Air Hot Increase", category = "Environment System"},
{pressed = 3002, cockpit_device_id = 17, value_pressed = -1, name = "Altimeter pressure set Decrease", category = "Front Dash"},
{pressed = 3002, cockpit_device_id = 17, value_pressed = 1, name = "Altimeter pressure set Increase", category = "Front Dash"},
{down = iCommandPlaneEject, name = "Bailout", category = "Systems"},
{combos = {{key = "JOY_BTN5"}}, down = 3002, cockpit_device_id = 14, value_down = 1, name = "Battery", category = "Right Switch Panel"},

 

It looks organized and formatted to me.

Edited March 16, 2014 by cichlidfan

[BallsOFire]

Maybe I need to try notepad++? Here's what one of my keyboard files looks like in notepad, you can see the path at the top, same as yours. My controller files look the same. I was originally trying to edit the lua files at c:\users\myname\Saved Games\DCS\*.lua which are the ones I save from the controller edit screen within DCS. I guess they combine the joystick, keyboard, and mouse files from the other location. They look the same. I appreciate your assistance!

 

[cichlidfan]

Those files you saved should be fine to edit. Use Notepad++ and it should be much easier to read.

[BallsOFire]

And yes that was the problem. Notepad++ parses it out perfectly. I guess it doesn't contain standard carriage returns or something. Thanks again for your help!

[cichlidfan]

Good deal.

 

Also, FYI, if you end up accidentally borking the controls for an aircraft, deleting the ..\Config\Input folder for that aircraft will cause the sim to recreate the files and reset the controls to default.

[BallsOFire]

OK so I think I might have bitten off more than I can chew, at least without some kind of manual. The files in c:\users\myname\Saved Games\DCS\*.lua don't seem to have everything. For example there is nothing delineating the different aircraft, and mostly it's just view, trim, and communication functions. So I guess the game reads the other functions from the files at c:\Users\<yourname>\Saved Games\DCS\Config\Input\<aircraft>\<controller>\?

 

So all this time I've thought I was making backups by saving the controls config file with a new name from within the game but it's really just been saving partial info to that new file and overwriting the files at ...Config\Input\<aircraft>\<controller>\?

 

At this point I think I'll just go ahead and setup all the controls again for the F-15 from within the game. I had no idea it would be this convoluted. If anyone does know of a manual or guide documenting how this stuff is saved/loaded by the game I'd still be interested. I'm not going to ask anyone to give me an online course, lol. Thanks.

[cichlidfan]

I think what you are missing is what happens when you save a config.

 

You must save a separate file for each controller for each aircraft. To do this, first click on any cell in the column for the controller (i.e. joystick) that you want to save. Then save the profile. Now go the next controller column (i.e. rudder pedals) and click somewhere in that one. Then save that profile.

 

I hope that helps.

 

EDIT: You also should be aware that each profile you save will contain lines for every control that can be assigned, not just the ones that you have made assignments to.

Edited March 16, 2014 by cichlidfan

[BallsOFire]

I think what you are missing is what happens when you save a config.

 

You must save a separate file for each controller for each aircraft. To do this, first click on any cell in the column for the controller (i.e. joystick) that you want to save. Then save the profile. Now go the next controller column (i.e. rudder pedals) and click somewhere in that one. Then save that profile.

 

I hope that helps.

 

EDIT: You also should be aware that each profile you save will contain lines for every control that can be assigned, not just the ones that you have made assignments to.

 

Oh wow I just saw this, didn't realize there was a page 2! This is great info, I didn't know this. Now it's starting to make more sense.

 

So do you know what the relationship is between the file I name and save in game, and the files that are stored at c:\Users\<yourname>\Saved Games\DCS\Config\Input\<aircraft>\<controller>\? Are they copies of each other?

[cichlidfan]

So do you know what the relationship is between the file I name and save in game, and the files that are stored at c:\Users\<yourname>\Saved Games\DCS\Config\Input\<aircraft>\<controller>\? Are they copies of each other?

 

I would imagine that they are. I have never compared the two though. The one you save actually does not get used in game, just the ones down in the folder hierarchy.

[BallsOFire]

I would imagine that they are. I have never compared the two though. The one you save actually does not get used in game, just the ones down in the folder hierarchy.

 

It all makes sense now. Thank you so much for walking me through this!

[cichlidfan]

No problem. It is not exactly documented anywhere outside of forum posts.

 

Btw, the way I do things is to save a copy of every controller's profile. Then I edit as needed and then import/load the edited profile. I also edit mine down to bare bones, removing any commands that are not used by that controller.

 

For example, my A-10 rudder profile:

function layout()
return {
forceFeedback = {
trimmer = 1.000000,
shake = 0.500000,
swapAxes = false,
invertX = false,
invertY = false,
},
keyCommands = {
},
axisCommands = {
{combos = {{key = "JOY_RZ", filter = {saturationX = 1.000000, saturationY = 1.000000, deadzone = 0.050000, invert = false, slider = false, curvature = {0.25}}}}, action = iCommandPlaneRudder, name = "Rudder"},
{combos = {{key = "JOY_X", filter = {saturationX = 1.000000, saturationY = 1.000000, deadzone = 0.000000, invert = true, slider = false, curvature = {0}}}}, action = iCommandLeftWheelBrake, name = "Wheel Brake Left"},
{combos = {{key = "JOY_Y", filter = {saturationX = 1.000000, saturationY = 1.000000, deadzone = 0.000000, invert = true, slider = false, curvature = {0}}}}, action = iCommandRightWheelBrake, name = "Wheel Brake Right"},
},
}
end

 

Of course, that is not necessary but I like working with clean easy to read and manage files. My joystick profiles are equally trimmed down so if ED adds a function, I can just paste the new line into my modified profile.

[too-cool]

I've change my controller from the X52pro to the X55 but the X52pro is still list as my Controller in C:\Users\Carls\Saved Games\DCS\InputLayoutsTxt\P-51D Real and not the X55, how do I change this to show the X55? Thanks TC

[cichlidfan]

I've change my controller from the X52pro to the X55 but the X52pro is still list as my Controller in C:\Users\Carls\Saved Games\DCS\InputLayoutsTxt\P-51D Real and not the X55, how do I change this to show the X55? Thanks TC

 

If all you are seeing is the old file in the folder, then don't worry about it. If it persists in showing up under Options>Controls (even though it is not plugged in), then you can delete the files under Saved Games. Otherwise, it should not be an issue.

[HiJack]

I use ExamDiff Pro to keep all my key files updated between DCS World versions. It's so quick to see ED's changes and apply my configuration to the new files. Would recommend to check it out. There are of course other file compare utilities also as ExamDiff is not free.

[cichlidfan]

I use ExamDiff Pro to keep all my key files updated between DCS World versions. It's so quick to see ED's changes and apply my configuration to the new files. Would recommend to check it out. There are of course other file compare utilities also as ExamDiff is not free.

 

If ED documented changes better, you would not need ExamDiff.